OPENING YOUR BOAT BACK UP AFTER BEING AWAY:

How to Combat Mold, Mildew, or Vermin

Many Ocean Posse members will put their boat ‘up’ at some point throughout the year whether it is to leave for an overland trip, leave to avoid hurricane or cyclone season, or just to take a break for a bit.ย  We shared, “Laying upon the hard or in the water: Details to Consider” by Rob Murray in the April 1, 2023 Newsletter. (https://oceanposse.com/fleet-update-2023-04-01/)ย  Now it is time to address the other side of this coin: Opening your boat back up after being away…and dealing with what is there.ย  Specifically what options are available to combat mold, mildew, or vermin that may have made themselves comfortable in your absence.

MOLD AND MILDEW:

Mold happens.

Mold and Mildew can and will attach themselves to many different surfaces on a vessel particularly in warm or humid environments and when left unattended..ย  Returning to mold and mildew after being gone, there are a number of different options to employ depending on the surface, your product preference, and your cruising plans:

  • SPRAYS FOR HARD AND SOFT SURFACES to rid and prevent:ย  There are a variety of sprays available to make with basic household products such as borax, baking soda, vinegar, tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide, bleach and of course there are a multitude of sprays one can purchase for specific hard or soft surfaces.ย  The most general purpose spray used about SV WHIRLWIND is 1:3 parts water and white vinegar with 10 drops of either tea tree oil or four thieves oil.ย  With the spray of choice, one can use a microfiber cloth to wipe down all hard or soft surfaces with this spray.ย  The key is to pick your product and use it because any mold or mildew that is not killed or cleaned off will continue to grow.ย 
  • ELIMINATE WATER ENTRY:ย If any mold or mildew is due to water intrusion, it is best to deal with it.ย  Water is best to float in not to let it.
  • DEHIMIDIFY AND/OR CIRCULATE FRESH AIR: Many cruisers will leave a dehumidifier running in their absence if they are able to and many still will run a dehumidifier once they are back on board as well.ย  Dehumidifiers use a bit of power but will give you a jumpstart on freshening up the indoor air environment if the boat has been closed up for a while.ย  Additionally or alternatively there is dampness in the air at all times so encouraging air circulation will move the moisture in the air along.ย  Ideally, you want the air inside the ship to be replaced at least every hour. Ventilation systems can be installed that pull air in and exhaust air out. Alternatively, to improve circulation of fresh air open all hatches and consider fans or a windscoop to get the air flowing through the boat.
  • SUN TIME:ย Many fabrics that have been folded and stored for a long period of time will benefit from simply airing out in the fresh air and sunshine.ย  Consider this for pillows, bedding, towels, etc…
  • IONIZATION:ย For boat owners with air conditioning systems, one can circulate ions in the system that are said to help eliminate mold spores in the air being circulated.

VERMIN like cockroaches, , mice/rats, or weevils:

Cockroaches are fast. They can be anywhere from the size of your pinky nail to the length of your thumb. They live all over the world.
Mice can look so sweet…but they are not known to be nice guests.
Weevils are small black critters that feed in your grains. Sometimes you will not see them, but you may see your grains move. If you find yourself scratching your head because you just saw a rice grain move, chances are you’ve got company.

Yuck, no one likes to think about these uninvited guests and yet at some point everyone has to contend with them.ย  Specifically, I am thinking of weevils, cockroaches, and/or mice.ย  Thankfully there are a depending on the severity of the problem there are a variety of options.

  • GIVE BOAT A DEEP CLEAN: Clean boats are less attractive to vermin: there are less hiding places, nesting places, and it is easier to see evidence of their presence on a clean boat.ย  Keep alert all season for evidence of vermin.ย  Be on the lookout for droppings, gnawed or damaged packaging and/or wires, finely shredded material in an odd place, and listen for unusual scampering sounds at night.ย  Once they are observed be quick to remove food source/s, entry/exit points/nesting material, trap or otherwise remove them from your boat.
  • DO NOT BRING THEM ONBOARD:ย These pests like to find ways onboard.ย  Do not let them.ย  Weevils like grains so carefully choose fresh grains and keep them moving through your galley not sitting in your stores.ย  Cockroaches like hiding in fruits and vegetables and cardboard boxes so monitor these items as they come aboard.ย  Cockroaches lay eggs in cardboard so keep this off the boat.ย  Cockroaches, mice, and rats can crawl up docklines so some people put borax around cleats to discourage them from go to the docklines.
  • ELIMINATE FOOD SOURCE: This is important for all vermin.ย  If they have a food source they will thrive.ย  Remove any food with weevils in it and remove or properly store in lock tight storage bins food that is only meant for human or pet consumption.
  • REMOVAL: COCKROACH SPECIFIC: There are many options for eliminating these vermin.ย  Most involve chemicals and or traps.ย  The most effective way to eliminate cockroaches onboard SV WHIRLWIND has been with cockroach gel.ย  Think about where they travel and put the gel on or near their travel paths or where they have been sighted.ย  Do no put the gel anywhere it can get on people’s hands casually or in human or pet food.ย  Like mice and rats, cockroaches use their shoulder and a wall or edge to navigate so their paths will follow these when they can.ย  Once cockroaches are gone, bay leaves in food lockers and spice cabinets are said to be a non-toxic cockroach deterrent.
  • REMOVAL: MICE/RAT SPECIFIC: If there are mice or rats aboard consider borrowing a cat or dog for a bit.ย  If that is not possible, traps are the next best step.ย  There are live traps and snap traps.ย  If using a live trap be sure to release the mouse very far from your vessel.ย  If a snap trap is used look for their pathways and put it in their path so they almost have to run over it.ย  Tempt them with peanut butter or something sticky.ย  Like cockroaches, mice and rats use their shoulder and a wall or edge to navigate so their paths will follow these when they can.ย  If traps do not work, consider alternate methods of removal.ย  When choosing this final method, it is important to consider your environment, and the safety of everyone nearby.ย  Poisons are the last resort because they are known to not only kill the mouse or rat but can harm or kill another animal that eats the infected vermin.